Nakano BC (中野ＢＣ株式会社)
Nakano BC is a brewery. Nakano BC in Kainan, Wakayama is a sake brewery that makes the Chokyu and Kiinokuniya Bunzaemon sake, and also produces plum liqueur, plum juice and shochu.
What kind of brewery is Nakano BC?
The company began in 1932 when Toshio Nakano started making and selling soy sauce. In 1949 it set up a brewery on the present site and began making shochu, and in 1958 it started producing sake. Plum liqueur production from Kishu plums began in 1979. In 1987 it adopted an in-house employee toji system to build up its own skills. In 2002 three group companies merged and took the present name.
- Master brewer
- An in-house employee toji system was introduced in 1987 to build up the company's own skills.
Can you visit Nakano BC?
- Tours
Brewery tours are offered through a Japanese garden, and the Chokyuan shop opposite the head office sells limited sake and offers tastings. A tour reservation page is provided.
- ShopOffered
- Tasting & foodOffered
Hours and booking rules change, so check before you go. Official website
Other brewery tours in Wakayama
Compiled with AI from public pages, mainly the brewery’s own site (not yet checked by the brewery)Sources: nakano-group.co.jp
Japan Sake Awards
A prize-winner in 4 of the 9 contests from brewing year 2017 to 2025, with a gold prize in 1.
- Gold prize紀伊国屋 文左衛門PDF
- Prize (nyusho)紀伊国屋 文左衛門PDF
- Prize (nyusho)紀伊国屋 文左衛門PDF
- Prize (nyusho)紀伊国屋 文左衛門PDF
Source: the prize lists of the Japan Sake Awards (National Research Institute of Brewing and Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association). Brewing year 2019 had no final judging, so no gold prizes.